Lighter



May 30, 1939. G. P. SCHMITT LIGHTER Filed Dec. 27, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .Illllllt/llfrlllilll!!! $15 I N E. N T- O R George Phil/ '0 Jab/m7).

ATT-OQNEY May 30, 1939. TT 2,160,002

LIGHTER I Filed Dec. 27., 1955 2 Sheets-Sheetv 2 INVENTOFQ.

662 196 Phi/60 Sc/nh/ff.

ATTOWNEIY Patented May 30, 1939 UNITED stares .Nr OFFICE.

LIGHTER Application December 27, 1935,,Serial No. 56,309 In Great Britain February 20, 1935 23 Claims.

This-invention relatesto-lighters which employ a catalyst for .igniting cigaretttes and the like, wherein the vapor of alcohol or other vaporizable L liquid carried by absorbent material is employed 'for'eifecting such action upon the catalyst, in the presence of atmospheric air, as will render such catalyst incandescent; so thatthecigarette or the like applied thereto and drawn upon, may be ig- M nited.

In catalytic lighters ithas beenfound that if thecatalyst is held in the presence of fuel vapor for a prolonged period, the lighter being closed, the confined vapor will condense upon the catalystand render it'inactive until said catalyst has been dried out.

zii factorily is attributable inno small measure to inability of the suction applied through the cigarette to draw'sufiicient or proper mixture offuel vapor and air for contaction with the catalyst.

2 3* Therefore my improvements, comprised in this application, which is a continuation in part of my application Serial No.. 54,215, filed December 13, 1935, include the provision of means, operable by the closing of the cover of the lighter, to isolate or remove the catalyst from communication with the fuel vapor and to seal the fuel egress opening and air admission vent, to the end that in the inoperative state of the lighter, no opportunity may be presented for the, collection upon 'the catalyst of condensation from the fuel vapor. Further myimprovements include the provision of a, passageway for conducting atmospheric air from the vent to the, base of the fuel chamber and in the provision of means for localizing the fuel carrying absorbent material to produce a vaporspace substantially completely surrounding the latter and communicating with the air passageway so-that suction applied at the top of the lighter will induce a flow of air toenter the passageway and commingle with the'fuel vapor in the vapor space, the mixture to be drawn to the catalyst to incandesce the same.

An object of the invention includes the arrangement of a lighter comprising a fuel chamber with'a fuel egress opening, and an air admission passageway to the fuel chamber, over which fuel egress opening a catalyst holder is situated when' the lighter is in use and wherein the catalyst holder is isolated from the fuel opening when 55""the lighter is in its inoperative condition. In

It has been further. found.

(01. 67-7) this arrangement the catalyst holder is disposed to be slidable over the fuel opening by a connecta ing arm between'the catalyst holder and a hinged cap or cover which is adapted when opened to bring the catalyst into connecting with the fluid opening but which cap'or cover on being closed, removes the chamber from this position and at the same time, seals the fuel chamber and air admission passageway, the association between the catalyst and the connecting arm being such that the catalyst holder may readily-be removed upon opening of the cover or cap for the purpose of filling the fuel chamber through the fuel open- A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a vapor space surroundingthefuel carried absorbent material, whereby the; air drawn in through the passageway readily com-' mingles with the vapor in the said space for coaction with the catalyst in .the catalyst holder when the cigarette or the like is drawn upon; And for this purposemeans are provided for confining or localizing the said absorbent material. Another object includes the provision of means for hermetically sealing the bottom of the fuel chamber or casing.

Inthe accompanying drawings I show what I now consider to be a preferred form falling within the scope of. the invention as hereinafter claimed. The disclosure is not to beregarded as restrictive but rather to illustrate an embodiment of my in? vention, which ,it is. understood may take many other detail forms.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a lighter embodying the invention and showing in dotted lines the position of the gasket with relation'to the fuel and air vents and also the catalyst chamher when the cover is closed.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1, the cover being closed position.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the cover opened and the device in operative position.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of same partly in section, with the cover opened-and the device in position ready for use.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of part of the device showing important parts of the device, the cover being in opened position.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of theshell of the lighter without the cover.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view along lines 1-1' of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the-bottom member.

Fig. 9 is an end elevational view of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a type of screen used at the top and bottom of the container.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic sectional view along line AA of Fig. 10 showing the curvature of the top screen.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic sectional view along line AA of Fig. 10 showing the curvature of the bottom screen.

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the catalyst chamber member. v

Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional view along lines |5- i5 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a side view of the slideway member.

Fig. 1'7 is a top plan view of the slideway member.

Fig. 18 is a detail view of the thumbknob attached to the slideway member.

Fig. 19 is a detail view of the compression spring for the slideway member.

Fig. 20 is a. top plan view of the inner bottom.

Fig. 21 is a side elevational View of Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a side elevational view of the cover.

Fig. 23 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 22.

Fig. 24 is a side elevational view of the pusher arm.

Fig. 25 is a top plan view of Fig. 24.

The numeral 26 indicates the wall of a fuel chamber or casing which may be of stream-lined or other suitable shape in cross-section, and adapted to contain a vaporizable fuel vehicle. The lighter has a cap or cover 28 hinged to wall 26 at 2? which together with the member 28 completes the closure means. A top plate 35 forming the upper wall of the casing or container has a fuel opening 42 and an air duct or vent d3, EX- tending from vent 43 to near the bottom 48 of the casing is a tube or passageway a l. Within the casing is a wick which acts as an absorbent for the fuel which may be alcohol fed into the casing through opening 32. Upon the top plate 35 a combined catch plate and slideway 3G is superimposed, one end of which has an upright member 33 carrying a stud or release button. 32 extending through an opening in wall 26 and the other end of which has another upright member 33' engaging an expansion spring 31. Spring 31 is arranged so that normally the button 32 protrudes through opening 0 in the position shown in Figure 1 but so that by pressing the button 32 inwardly against the force of spring 37 an opening G in the raised end 33 of plate 35 may be caused to release or engage a stud or pin Y on the cap or cover 28. The slideway 34 has a cutaway part in its centre forming an opening C so that in any position it does not obscure the opening G2 or $3. Expansion spring 3'! is located around an extension arm 38 of slideway 34, which arm passes through an opening 39 in the upright portion at of the fixed cover portion 35.

The catalyst P which may be composed of a suitable spong platinum composition or the like is housed in a chamber or holder 55 which consists of a base plate or slide 55 having a collar 65 and a cup 64 having an opening 65. Slide 65 is press fitted onto cup 65. Catalyst P is located in cup fi l over opening 66. A perforated plate or screen S of heat resisting material is placed over catalyst P which is held in position by a retainer ring R. Another perforated plate or screen (not shown) may be positioned on the bottom of the cup covering opening 66 below the catalyst. Slide 65 has two catches 55 which project upwardly. The cover or cap 28 is hinged to wall 26, and pivoted or hingedly secured at 29 to the cover is an arm or pusher 38 of which one end is bifurcated, the extremities of each llimb 52, 53 having a detent or notch which may be shaped as shown in Figure 24 and engaging the catch 55 of slide 65. A spring 3! presses on the arm or pusher 30 and against cover 28 so as to effect the engagement of 54 and 55 and also acts as means to swing or force open cover 28 when release button 32 is pressed inwardly. The base plate or slide 65 is provided with two channel members 5?, 58 which uide the shank portion 59 of slideway or catch plate 34 and when the cover 28 is open, i. e., in the operative position. shown in Figs. 3, a and 5 the catalyst holder 56 lies vertically above the fuel opening 42. In closing and opening cover 28, pusher 32] will cause holder 55 to slide forward and backward over opening 42, and when the cover 28 is closed the holder 55 will slide away from opening G2 to an inoperative position. Two grooves 50, 6| are provided in top plate 35 to clear the guides 51, 58. The arm 38 carries on its underside a gasket M which may be a pad of rubber composition or the like and a stud or button 51 projects from the upperside of arm 30. When the cover is open pad 4! is clear of the fuel opening 42 and air opening 43, but when the cover is closed arm 30 moves holder 5% to the position shown in broken lines in Figure 1, and the pad 4| is brought into a position over the openings 42, 43, the cover 28 exerting a slight pressure on the stud 5| to ensure that the pad effectively seals said openings,

To localize the wick or absorbent material 66 to provide a vapor space there surrounding an upper screen or perforated plate 45 and a lower screen or perforated plate 4'! are provided which are spaced from the top and bottom respectively of the casing to provide the respective fuel vapor and air passages 68, 6?. Screens d5, M are preferably arched as shown in Figs. 11, 12 to facilitate maintainance of respective vapor spaces 58, 61. The wick 46 is, and screens 45, A? may be, confined within the casing so as to provide the fuel vapor and air passages 49, 5E} communicating with passages 68, 61. Tube 44 passes through the screens 45, 41. A complete circuitous path is thereby provided on either side of tube M for the commingled fuel vapor and air to reach the catalyst P.

It will be seen from the above that when cover 28 is closed the fuel chamber is sealed and the catalyst holder or chamber 55 is removed from the fuel opening 42 whereas on opening cover 28 the holder 56 is brought into an operative position. A cigarette or the like held against the screen S of the catalyst holder 56 will be lighted if suction be applied by drawing upon the cigarette,

'owing to vapor and air (entering the casing through duct 43) mixing in the passages in the casing and entering the catalyst holder in the presence of the catalyst incandescing the latter.

The container may be refilled at any time by removing holder 58 from pusher 3i and slideway 341. This is accomplished by sliding holder 56 away from pusher 3&3 along slideway 3A (in which case catches 55 leave the notches 54) and detaching holder 56 from slideway 34 by passing the uides 5?, 58 through the notches 62 in slideway 34, The holder may thus be removed from opening 42 into which the fuel may be poured. Replacement of holder 55 is readily effected by slidingly engaging the holder with slideway 343 through notchesv E2 and by sliding the catches 55 under the detents 54. The portion of top plate 35:- surroundingopenings 42-, 43',iswraisecl as-;indi-- cated. at I 0, to preventathefuel jfIOIHZGSCQiPiHE'bG tweensthe plate: 35' and :holder- 56: when the" latter is inoperative=- position.

In ordertoimaintaina a seal tightfjoint at the! bottom of:the casing 26, .a plateor-auxiliarybottom" 48? is; soldered onweldedtdwa'll 3E. The casing is then finished off for ornamental pur poses byfpress fitting a'false bottom, plate 63 1 within wall 36=blow P1812648} I'desireit understood that the invention: is: not to be' confined totheparticular form shown'an-d described, the samebeing merely illustrative, and;

that the invention can: be carried out in other sways without departing from the spirit thereof,

ploy all equivalent an'd'there'fore I' claim broadly the right to eminstrumentalities coming within thes'cope-ofthe ap'p'ended claims, and by means ofwhich; objects of my invention are-at- 'atai'ned' and newresults accomplished, as it issaid plate and, adapted to slide thereover, an arm pivoted to said cover, a catalyst container in communication with said opening when inoperative position, said container being in slidable engagement'with said member and connected to said arm whereby theclosure of the coverrmoves the container from said operative position, and means carried by said member and ad'aptedito engage or disengage said cover topermit actuation of 4 said cover.

2. A lighter comprisinga container having a cover, a'slideway near the topof the container and having an air, vent, a slide-fitting the slideway and" containing a piece of'catalytic material for ignition purposes, said slide being hingedly connected to saidcover, said slideway having a fuel vapor'opening over whichthe, slide extends whereby the material can be alternatively placed atthe fuel opening or removed therefrom upon respective opening andclosing ofthe cover, resilient means. operable bysaid'cover adapted to seal" saidvfuel vopening'andsaid vent when said cover is closed, andmeans operative by the closingvof saidcover to press against said former. means.

3. Alighter comprisinga container having a cover, a slideway near-the top ofthe container means operable by. saidicover adapted to seal said a fuel opening and said vent when said cover-is.

and having an air vent, a slide fitting the slideway and containing a piece of catalytic ma erial forignition purposes, said slide being hingedly connected to said cover, said slideway, having a fuel vapor opening. over which the slide, extends whereby the material can be alternatively placed,

at the fuel opening or removed therefrom upon respective opening and closing of the cover, and

closed.

'4. A lighter comprising a container having a hinged cover, a slicleway near the top of the container, a slide fitting the, slideway and containing a piece of catalytic material. forignition purposes, said slide being connected to said, cover, said slideway having an openingfor providing a fuel vapor outlet over which the slide extends whereby the material can bealternatively placed at: the:outlet-. orremoved therefromupon respec tiveropeningi and closingof the cover.

5.'In-a lighter, a container forv fuel having--21, fuelopening;'a cove rfor'saidacontainer, areceptacle for housing a catalyst; said receptacle being slidable with relation to said container, means: pivotally. and removably connecting said cover and said receptacle, said means positioning said receptacle above said fuel opening when said cover'isin open position and removing said receptacle from said fuel opening upon closing of saidcover, and a member carried'by said means adapted to cover said fuel opening when said cover is closed.

6. in a lighter, a container for fuel having a fuel op'e'ning'and an air vent, a cover for said container, a receptacle for housing a catalyst,

said receptacle being slidable with relation to said container, means pivotally connecting said covera'nd said receptacle, said means positioning said receptacle above said fuel opening when said coveris in open position and removing said receptacle from said fuel opening upon closing of said cover, and a member operable by said cover adapted to cover said fuel opening and said vent when said cover is closed.

'7. In a lighter. a container for fuel having a fuel opening and an air duct. a cover for said container, a chamber for housing a catalyst, said chamber being longitudinally slidable with relation to said container, an arm pivoted in said cover and removably engaging saidchamber, said arm positioning said chamber vertically above said fuel opening when said cover is in open position, said arm removing said chamber from said fuel opening uponclosing of said cover, a member carried by said arm adapted to cover said fuel opening and said duct when said cover is,

closed, and means for pressing said member against said opening andduct when said cover is closed.

8. In a lighter, a container for fuel having a fuel opening and an air vent, a cover hinged to said container, a chamber for housing a catalyst, said chamber being longitudinally slidable with relation to said-container, an arm pivoted in said i cover and removably engaging said chamber, said arm. positioning said chamber vertically above said, fuel opening-V when said cover is in open position, saidarm removing said chamber from said fuel opening upon closing of said cover, a

resilient member carried by said arm adapted to cover said'v fuel opening and said vent when said cover is' closed, and means operative by the closingof the cover to press said member against said opening and vent when said cover is closed; 9. In a. lighter, a container for fuel having'a fuel opening and an air-vent, a tube extendingfromsaid vent to within said container, a coverhinged to said container, a chamber for housing 3a catalyst, said-chamber being longitudinally slidable'with'relation to said container, an arm pivoted in said cover and-removably engagingtsaid chamber, said arm for positioning said chamber vertically above said fuel opening when said cover isin open position, said arm removing said chamber from said fuel opening upon closing of said cover, a depressable member carried by said arm adapted to cover said fuel opening and said ventwhen said cover is closed, and means operative by the closing of the cover topress said member against said opening and vent when said cover is closed.

10. In- 'a lighter,- a container for fuel having a fuel opening and an air vent, a cover hinged to said container, a holder for housing a catalyst, said holder being longitudinally slidable with relation to said container, an arm pivoted in said cover and removably engaging said holder, said arm for positioning said holder vertically above said fuel opening when sair cover is in open position, said arm removing said holder from said fuel opening upon closing of said cover, and means carried by said arm for sealing said fuel opening and said vent when said cover is closed.

11. A lighter comprising a casing having a cover, a slideway in the upper part of the casing, an air duct extending within said casing, absorbent material within said casing, means 10- calizing said material providing a passage surrounding said material and communicating with said duct, and a slide associated with said slideway and containing a catalyst for ignition purposes, said slide being hingedly connected to said cover, said slideway having a fuel vapor opening communicating with said casing and over which said slide extends whereby said catalyst may be alternatively placed at said fuel opening or removed therefrom upon respective opening and closing of said cover.

12. A lighter comprising a casing having a cover, a slideway in the upper part of the casing, an air duct extending within said casing, absorbent material within said casing, means 10- calizing said material providing a passage surrounding said material and communicating with said duct, a slide associated with said slideway and containing a catalyst for ignition purposes, said slide being hingedly connected to said cover, said slideway having a fuel vapor opening communicating with said casing and over which said slide extends whereby said catalyst may be alternatively placed at said fuel opening or removed therefrom upon respective opening and closing of said cover, and means operable by said cover to seal said fuel opening and said vent when said cover is closed.

13. A lighter comprising a casing, a cover hinged thereto, a slideway in the upper part of the casing, an air duct extending within the casing, absorbent material within said casing, means localizing said material providing a passage surrounding said material and communicating with said duct, a slide associated with said slideway and containing a catalyst for ignition purposes, said slideway having a fuel vapor opening communicating with said casing and over which said slide extends, and a member hingedly connected to said cover and attached to said slide whereby said catalyst may be alternatively placed at said fuel opening or removed therefrom upon respective opening and closing of said cover, said slide being removable from said member for filling the casing through said fuel opening upon opening said cover.

14. In a lighter, a container for fuel and having a fluid tight top plate provided with a fuel opening and an air vent, a tube extending from said vent to near the base of said container, a cap hinged to said container, a chamber, for housing a catalyst, said chamber having a plate slidably fitting within said container and provided with a pair of upward projections, a bifurcated arm pivoted in said cap, co-operative means on the bifurcations of said arm and said projections for removably engaging said chamber with said arm, resilient means for urging mutual engagement between said projections and said bifurcations, said arm positioning said chamber vertically above said fuel opening when said cap is in open position, said arm removing said chamber from said fuel opening upon closing of said cap, a resilient member carried by said arm adapted to cover said fuel opening and said duct when said cap is closed, and an auxiliary plate sealed in said container providing a fluid tight bottom for the container.

15. A lighter comprising a fuel container having a fluid tight top plate provided with a. fuel opening and an air duct, a cap hinged to said container, a slideway superimposed upon said top plate, a stud carried by one end of said slideway and extending through an opening in a wall of said container, means engaging said slideway normally urging said stud outward, means on said cap lockingly engageable with said slideway when said cap is in closed position and disengageable therefrom by pressing said stud inwardly, a cata' lyst, a chamber housing said catalyst, said chamber having a slide in slidable engagement with said slideway and provided with a pair of upward projections, a bifurcated arm ivoted in said cap, each of the bifurcations removably engaging said projections, a spring associated with said arm urging engagement of said bifurcations with said projections, said arm for positioning said chamber vertically above said fuel opening when said cap is in open position, said arm removing said chamber from said fuel opening upon closing of said cap, a resilient member carried by said arm adapted to cover said fuel opening and said duct when said cap is closed, and an auxiliary plate sealed in said container providing a fluid tight bottom for the container.

16. In a lighter, a container for fuel having a fuel opening and an air vent, a cap hinged to said container, a chamber for housing a catalyst, said chamber slidably fitting within said container and provided with a pair of projections, a bifurcated arm pivoted in said cap the bifurcations engaging said projections, said arm for positioning said chamber vertically above said fuel opening when said cap is in open position, said arm removing said chamber from said fuel opening upon closing of said cap, a member carried by said arm adapted to cover said fuel opening and said vent when said cap is closed, and means operable by the closing of the cap to press said member against said opening and vent.

17. In a lighter, a container for fuel having a fuel opening and an air duct, a cap hinged to said container, a chamber for housing a catalyst, said chamber being longitudinally slidable with relation to said container, an arm pivoted in said cap, said chamber and said arm having mutual engaging means, said arm for positioning said chamber vertically above said fuel opening when said cap is in open position, said arm removing said chamber from said fuel opening upon closing of said cap, a member carried by said arm adapted to cover said fuel opening and said duct when said cap is closed, a wick within said container, and means localizing said wick providing a passage surrounding said wick, and communicating with said duct.

18. In a lighter, a container for fuel having a fuel opening and an air duct, a cap hinged to said container, a chamber for housing a catalyst, said chamber being longitudinally slidable with relation to said container, an arm pivoted in said cap, said chamber and said arm having mutual engaging means, said arm positioning said chamber vertically above said fuel opening when said cap is in open position, said arm removing said chamber from said fuel opening upon closing of said cap, a resilient member carried by said arm adapted to cover said fuel opening and said duct when said cap is closed.

19. In a lighter, a container for fuel having a fuel opening and an air duct, a cover for said container, a receptacle for housing a catalyst, said receptacle being slidable with relation to said container, and means pivotally connecting said cover and said receptacle, said means positioning said receptacle above said fuel opening when said cover is in open position and removing said receptacle from said fuel opening upon closing of said cover.

20. In a lighter, a container for fuel having a fuel opening, a cover for said container, a receptacle for housing a catalyst, said receptacle being slidable with relation to said container, means pivotally connecting said cover and said receptacle, said means positioning said receptacle above said fuel opening when said cover is in open position and removing said receptacle from said fuel opening upon closing of said cover, and a member carried by said arm adapted to cover said fuel opening when said cover is closed.

21. A lighter comprising a container having a cover and a plate near the top of the container forming a slideway and having an air duct, a slide fitting in the slideway and containing a piece of catalytic material for ignition purposes, said slide being hingedly connected to said cover,

said plate having a fuel vapor outlet over which the slide extends whereby the material can be alternately placed at the outlet or removed therefrom upon respective opening and closing of the cover, and means adapted to cover said outlet and said duct when said cover is closed.

22. A lighter comprising a fuel chamber having a top plate with a fuel egress opening, a cover hinged to said chamber, a catch plate mounted contiguous said top plate and adapted to slide thereover, an arm pivoted to said cover, a catalyst container connected to said arm whereby the closure of the cover moves the container from an operative position in which the container is in communication with the fuel opening, a catch member on said cover, a catch carried by said catch plate and adapted to engage or disengage said member to permit actuation of said cover.

23. A lighter comprising a fuel chamber with a fuel egress opening, a cover, an arm pivoted to said cover, a catalyst container connected to said arm whereby the closure of the cover moves the container from an operative position in which the container is in communication with the fuel opening, the connection between said container and said arm being such that said container may be slidably removed from said arms by a relative lateral movement between said container and said arm for filling the chamber through said opening upon lifting of the cover.

GEORGE PHILIP SCHMITT. 

